SB-249: Help OPPOSE, Save OHV

Your assistance is needed to help save the California OHV Program. Senate Bill 249 is scheduled for a hearing before the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife on July 11, 2017. This proposed bill is OPPOSED by state OHV groups and would eliminate the OHV program as it now exists.

The immediate need is for people that live within the districts of Members of the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife to send letters asking them to OPPOSE SB-249. A list of those members is provided below.

However, if you do not live in their district, please feel free to contact any or all and express your opposition.

You can either write and mail a letter, send an email with the below text (about 1505 characters) or leave a posting on the Member’s Facebook Wall.

Your Assembly Member and State Senator will be displayed with a link to their respective websites.

On the website will be a “Contact” link with the ability to send an email to your representative.

Please cut and paste the below information and send an email to your elected representative.

Most Legislators maintain a social media (Facebook) presence.

And, cut and paste the below information and post it to the Facebook Wall of your elected representative.

Letter text is below:

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Re: SB 249 (Allen) OPPOSE

Dear Assembly Member:

Since 1971, the OHV Program has been a success and hailed as a national model.The Program assures that quality recreational opportunities are available for future generations by providing education, conservation, and law enforcement efforts that balance OHV recreation impact with programs that conserve and protect cultural and natural resources.

I encourage you to listen to concerns expressed by OHV stakeholders. Regulatory mandates and related compliance requirements place the entire program (SVRAs and units managed by the FS/BLM/Counties) in both legal and fiscal jeopardy.

CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) is defined as the fundamental guidance law for compliance which requires the disclosure of potential impacts to the natural environment to the extent practicable.

As such, the SB-249 creates a new administrative regulatory (legal) construct which is not supported by other legislation. This is excessive administrative regulation overreach with an adverse impact on federal partner participation in the OHV program. The proposed administrative regulations cause confusion in the defined intent of the OHV program and the guidelines to manage the OHMVR program.

I urge your office to work with the OHV community to provide legislation that honors the history, spirit, and intent of the current OHV program that is looked to as a national model of managed 21stCentury OHV recreation. Please OPPOSE SB-249.

About the author

I believe and advocate that the best policies and management decisions come through full public disclosure and maximum public involvement. It is important to involve local elected officials, organizations, and individuals representing all points of view before making land management decisions that have long-term effects on local communities. I believe that the strength of individual involvement is an important element to support an active access advocacy program. Each recreationist must be informed and educated on the issues affecting their recreation opportunities. The success of access depends on the commitment of the whole.

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